Automatic change speed gear



April 18, 1939. c. E. HENRIOD 2,155,132

AUTOMATIC "CHANGE SPEED GEAR Filed Sept. 5, 21.936 4 Sheets-Sheet lgrwczwkw CHARLES E HENR/OD April 18, 1939. c. E. HENRIOD 2,155,132

AUTOMATIC CHANGE SPEED GEAR Filed Sept. 5, 1936 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mznkovC. 5. H872 m acZ marl-W45 April 18, 1939- Y c. E. HENRIOD 2,155,132

AUTOMATIC CHANGE SPEED GEAR 7 Filed Sept. 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April1 8, 1939. c. E. HENRIOD ,1

AUTOMATIC CHANGE SPEED GEAR Filed Sept. 5; 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September6,-1936, Serial No. 99,656 In France December 26, 1966 14 Claims.

The present invention has for its subject matter the construction of anautomatic change speed gear, essentially characterised in thatitcomprises centrifugal clutches which come into action. automatically andsuccessively, as a function of the speed and of the torque. Theseclutches are combined with means enabling the instant at which they areengaged to be varied automatically as a function of the speed and of theresisting couple or as a function of these two factors together. I

In a modification of the above device the clutches are of the plate typeand comprise discs driven by balls which are tightened against a cheeksecured to the driving portionby means of bolts which pass through allthe discs right across; the nuts of these bolts are screwed up orunscrewed by the action of the centrifugal masses to which they aresecured.

In these two latter devices the driving balls interposed between theplates also serve as means for varying the instant at which the clutchesare engaged as a function of the torque and of the speed, or of both.

The invention also covers modifications in which the coupling device ismounted on the resistance.

The invention also relates to various arrangements of which theparticular details will appear in the course of the description.

The accompanying drawings show. by way of example, various forms ofconstruction of the device according to the invention. Y

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of one of these methods ofconstruction, comprising three speeds.

Fig. 2 is a view in section of the clutch portion of a modified form.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line E--F of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a modification of Fig. 1 in three positions ofoperation.

Fig. 7 is an end view of a free wheel locking device, of which Fig. 8 isa cross section.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the driving shaft isindicated at 4 and the driven shaft at H4. Rigidly mounted on thedriving shaft is a plate 6, to which is fixedly secured a drum 6 whichin turn carries fixed thereto a plate I68 Pivoted on the plate I66 at I66 are clutch shoes H3 engageable with a clutch drum HI secured to asleeve 66, which is the outermost of three sleeves mounted on the drivenshaft H4.

The inner sleeve H2 has secured thereto at its left end a plate H6having at I24 8. surface of frictional material, forming a portion of aclutch. To the left of the disc H6 is another disc H6, having a frictionsurface I26 opposed to the 5 friction surface on the disc H6. A thirddisc H6 is keyed to the driven shaft Ill, and the adjacent faces ofclutches H6 and III are provided with frictional surfaces.

Between the frictionalsurfaces on the plates 10 H6 and H6 is arranged aring I26 which is connected by teeth at I26 to the drum 6 for rotationtherewith. Between the friction surfaces I24 is a plate I24 which iskeyed by teeth at :3 to a plate I26 rigid on intermediate sleeve 15Between the plates H6, H6 and H6 are arranged two sets of balls I26 andI2I'. These balls move in grooves having inclined bottoms in theopposite faces of the plates.

Passing through the three discs are pins H1 and H1. These pins haveheads H6 seated in spherical depressions in the right hand faces of discH6. Mounted on pin H1 is a member Ill having a spherical end resting ona spherical seat I" in the left hand side of disc H6. On the outer endof pin III are threads H6 of high pitch, on which is threadedly engageda nut III having a weight at one side thereof, as shown more clearly inFig. 3.

Pin III carries slidably thereon a pressure member H6, which engages ina spherical seat in the left hand face of plate II 6. Nut H6 engagingthreads I I6 is also actuated by an eccentrically arranged weight rigidtherewith.

Members I26, I26 and I26 are splash rings for preventing oil from theshaft and sleeves passing to the clutch surfaces.

Mounted on the rear or right hand end of sleeve 66 is a gear 66 meshingwith a gear 6| carried by a countershaft 62. This gear through afree-wheel 64 is capable of driving a gear 66, which also meshes with agear I 66 mounted on sleeve I22. Gear 96 through free wheel 66 iscapable of driving gear 61, which also meshes with gear 66 rigid onsleeve H2.

Gear 61 is slidable, and may be moved to three different positions byrod 66. In one position, representing neutral, it is out of engagementwith any gears, while in the third position it may be engaged with areverse idler gear (not shown). In the position shown in Fig. 1, gear 61is in forward driving position. I

The operation of this device is as follows:

Shaft ,4 through drum 6 drives plate I66 the as clutches formed byplates I20 and I28, and by shoes IIII, being disengaged. the time thedevice runs idle, and no power is transmitted. When a sufficient speedis reached, the centrifugal clutches H are pressed outwardly intoengagcment with the drum III, and thus drum III and sleeve 89 arerotated. Gear 90 drives gear 9i, gear 95, gear 91 and gear 99 andthereby turns sleeve II2. Balls I20 and I2I, although in a position, aswill be explained below, to space the discs III, H5 and H6 apart,nevertheless transmit motion from one of these discs to the next one andthereby drive disc IIB, which in I turn drives shaft II.

In this low speed drive, the torque on the driven shaft is high andtherefore the discs H3, H5 and H6 tend to turn with respect to eachother. In this turning movement, balls I and I2I are shifted into theshallow portions of the groove in which they run, and thus push discsH3, H5 and H8 apart so that clutch plates I20 and I are not engaged.

As the speed increases and the torque decreases, nuts II9 are tightenedand balls I20 moveinto the deeper portions of their grooves. 'As aresult, follower I I8 pushes disc IIS towards disc II3, thereby pressingfriction surfaces I24 against plate I24 and locking this plate to thetwo discs. When this occurs, gear 95, still driven in the same manner asdescribed above, through gear I00, drives sleeve I22 to turn disc I23and therewith turns discs Ill and H5, at a higher speed than when clutchI24 is disengaged. Balls I2I transmit this motion to plate H0 andthereby to the driven shaft Ill. During this drive wheel 95'moves fasterthan wheel 91, but this is permitted by the free wheel 96.

For a third speed, or direct drive, the speed must increase still moreand the torque decrease. At a certain speed, and reduced torque, ballsI2I move into the deeper portions of their grooves and nut H0 forcesplate II 6 towards plate IIi so as to clutch plate l25 therebetween.This clutches plate H6 to drum BI, so that a direct drive is obtainedbetween shafts l and III.

There will now be described the modification in Figs. 2 and 3. In thismodification also there are used plate clutches. These clutches areconstructed in the following manner.

The intermediate shaft 0 is secured to a plate ii on which are securedbolts passing freely through three plates 50. 51, 50 between which aretightened rings 59, 00 and SI, respectively secured to clutch drums 30,21 and 20. These members are held assembled by means of'nuts 02 screwedon the bolts 05 and each provided with a centrifugal mass 02.. Betweenthe plates I4, 56, 51 and 50 are interposed balls 00, 04 and located inrecesses 05 of corresponding shape. These balls serve to set in rotationthe clutch plates relatively to one another, a stop 08, secured to theplate 56 and moving in slots 61, limiting their movement. Each of thecentrifugal masses 63 is provided with a return spring The operation isthe following:

The engine being in operation all the clutches are driven disengaged, asin the case of the device in Figs. 1 and 2. When the engine reaches thespeed of 1000 revolutions the masses 0! secured to the tightening nuts02 spread apart by reason of the centrifugal force and tighten the.clutch plates against the driving rings 50, 00 and The resistance tostarting being too high for driving the three clutches, the drivingballs 00 and N of the second and third speeds. do not resist the driveand tend to leave their recesses by spreading'the plates 56 and 01 ofthe rings 59 and 60 and by increasing the tightening of the fiange 6|against the plates 51 and 00. This flange thus drives, through themedium of its drum 22. the hub 24 which carries the gear of the firstspeed.

Thesecond speed is obtained by the action of the reduction of resistanceitself. For this purpose the balls 04 enter their recess and the fiange60 is tightened against the plates 01 and 50 thus driving its drum 2! ofwhich the hub 20 carries the gear for the second speed.

The third speed, that is to say direct drive, is obtained as for thesecond speed. when the resistance diminishes the balls 00" enter theirrecesses and the two plates I4 and 5 0 tighten on the ring 59 by reasonof'the tightening force of the centrifugal masses 0!.

The modification shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 comprises the followingimprovements: while in Fig. 1, in high gear, all the clutches aresimultaneously connected, which necessitates the provision of freewheels in the box, in the above mentioned figures the clutches for thesecond gear and for the high gear cannot-be connected together.

The same references designate the same elements as in Fig. 1. Thedriving clutch of the first gear has not been shown and is similar tothe clutch of Fig. 1.

The operation is as follows:

Fig. 4 shows the position of. the elements in first gear. As before, themovement and the driving force pass through the sleeve II2, the plateN3, the balls I20, the plate III. the balls I2I, the plate IIG, thislatter being slidingly keyed on the shaft Ill at I21. The direction ofthe forces is indicated by the arrows III.

of course, the plates are shifted when rotating. For a bettercomprehension they have been shown shifted in the drawings.

A fixed tension spring I28 tends to cause the tightening of the platesIll and III through the ball rod I 20.

A series of centrifugal masses III tends to tighten the plates Ill andII 0 through the rod III.

The shifting the plates when rotating is limited through stops which arenot shown. In first gear this shifting has its full extension and causesthe disengagement of the second and third gears by means of the balls.

The balls I2I are on a greater radius than the balls I20; thus they aresubjected to a greater tangential stress.

The stop I20 maintains the plate III and the sleeve II2 laterally. Thespeed of the shaft I increases always in first gear; the resistingtorque diminishes, the centrifugal tightening up of the masses H9increases, but the disengagement torque on the balls I2I remainsstronger. For a determined value of the stress on the balls I20, thetraction of the spring I20 predominates and the second gear disc I20 istightened. The position is then the same as in Fig. 5 and the unitformed of both plates III and H0 has been shifted towards the right forfollowing the shifting movement of the plate III The speed of the shaftIII still increases and the resisting torque continues to diminish tillthe tightening of the masses II! is greater than the tension of thespring I20 and the disengagement stress of the balls I3I. 'Ihen theplate Ill is shifted towards the left, thus setting the second gear freefor clutching on the third gear; the position is then the same is inFig. 6. It is to be 6 noted that for effecting the traction of the plateII! the plate II has come to rest against a stop I3I.

In the position of Fig. 6, if the resisting torque increases, the Jpieces return to the position of 10 Fig. 4 through the same functions,but inthe converse direction.

If the car drives the engine, the mechanism will remain clutched in highgear till the spring I23 returns the plate I I5 for positivelyestablish- 1! ing the second gear.

For facilitating the judicious establishment of the points for thechange from second to third gear and conversely, the tightening curvefor the masses II! can be changed by adding to the M same a constanttightening effect in the form of springs having a fixed value.

In practice the spring I28 may be located on the left hand side of theplate II! for reducing the place which is required.

It has been said that such a change speed gear only requires a simplefree wheel for the first gear. It is easy to render the first gearpositive at will by locking its free wheel according to the device shownin Figs. 7 and 8. III is the shaft, I3I is the sliding pinion giving theneutral position, the forward drive and the reverse by means of asuitable control. I32 is the second gear pinion, ing to the pinion I3|I34 is the hub of the free wheel on which the sliding pinion I3I issplined and slides. I35 are the free wheel rolls.

The drawings show the pinion I3I in the position for automatic forwarddrive. If it is shifted towards the left till it engages the teeth I33,the free wheel is locked and the positive first gear is obtained.

It will'be understood that the forms of construction above described aresimply given by way of example and may receive any desirableconstructional modifications without departing from the scope of theinvention for this purpose. Thus for example, one or other of thedevices may be mounted on the resisting shaft instead of being mountedon the driving shaft.

I claim:

l. A variable speed transmission comprising a driving member, a drivenmember, a plurality of speed combinations, a separate clutch for eachspeed combination, and automatic means controlled by the speed of thedriving member and the load on the driven member to control saidclutches, said means including centrifugal masses adapted to causeengagement of said clutches when a certain speed is reached, and meansconnecting said clutches, said clutch connecting means transmitting theload on the driven member to the various clutches, said clutchconnecting means including members movable upon variations in the loadon the driven member for preventing engagement of one of the clutches aslong as the load remains above a predetermined value.

2. A variable speed transmission comprising a driving member and adriven member, a plurality of speed combinations for connecting saiddriving and driven members, a clutching mechanism for each speedcombination, means including a 'clutch member secured on the drivenmember for imparting movement thereto at all speed 7 combinations, meanscontrolled by the speed of carrying internal teeth I33 correspond- 3. Avariable speed transmission comprising a driving member, a drivenmember, a plurality of speed combinations, separate clutching means foreach speed combination, means including a clutch member secured on thedriven member for imparting movement thereto at all speed combinations,automatic means controlled by the speed of the driving member and theload on the driven member to control said clutching means, saidautomatic means including centrifugal masses adapted to cause engagementof said clutching means, means to drive said centrifugal masses inaccordance with the speed of one of said members, means to transmit to aportion of each of said clutching means the load on said driven member,and means movable upon variations in the load-on the driven member forpreventing engagement of one of said clutches as long as the loadremains above a predetermined value.

4. In a device as claimed in claim 3, said clutching means includingplates and said movable means comprising balls arranged between saidplates.

5. In a device as claimed in claim- 3, said clutching means includingthree substantially parallel plates, cooperating clutch members on saidplates, said plates having opposed recesses therein and said movablemeans comprising balls engaged in said recesses.

6. In a device as claimed in claim 3, said clutching means includingthree substantially parallel plates, cooperating clutch members on saidplates, said plates having a plurality of pairs of opposed recessestherein and said movable means comprising balls engaged in saidrecesses, one pair of recesses being closer to the axis of rotation thananother pair.

'7. In a device as claimed in claim 3, said clutching means includingdiscs mounted on one of said members, pins running through said discs,said centrifugal masses being threaded on said pins so as to press saiddiscs together under the action of centrifugal force.

8. In a device as claimed in claim 3, said clutching means includingdiscs mounted on one of said members, pins running through said discs,said centrifugal masses being threaded on said pins so as to press saiddiscs'together under the action of centrifugal force, said discs havingopposed recesses therein and said movable means including balls locatedin said recesses.

9. In a device as claimed in claim 3; said clutching means includingdiscs mounted on one of said members, pins running through said discs,said centrifugal masses being threaded on said pins so as to press saiddiscs together under the action of centrifugal force, said discs havingopposed recesses therein and said movable means including balls locatedin said recesses, the recesses in one pair of plates being further fromthe axis of rotation than the recesses in the other pair.

some o said pins engaged to some of said discs to urge them together,and means on other pins clutching means including at least three discsmounted on said members, a pin passing through two of said discs, acentrifugal mass threaded on said pin and adapted to press said discstogether, a pin passing through one of said first two discs and thethird disc, and a spring on said pin urging said last two discstogether.

12. In a device as claimed in claim 3, springs resisting outwardmovement of said centrifugal masses.

13. A variable speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, a drivenshaft, sleeves mounted on said driven shaft, gears fixed on saidsleeves, a countershaft, gears on said countershaft meshing with saidfirst gears, free wheel means connecting said second gears, a pluralityof clutches having parts connected to said sleeves and parts connectedto the driving and driven shafts, a

clutch being provided for each speed, and automatic means controlled bythe speed of the driving shaft and the load on the driven shaft tocontrol said clutches, said automatic means including centrifugal massesadapted to cause engagement of said clutches when a certain speed isreached, and means connecting said clutches, said clutch connectingmeans transmitting the load on the driven shaft to the various clutches,said clutch connecting means including members movable upon variationsin the load on the driven member for preventing engagement of one of theclutches as long as the load remains above a predetermined value.

resses is. A variable speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, adriven shaft, 3 counter-shaft opposite said driven shaft, three sleevesmounted on said driven shaft, gears on said sleeves, gears on saidcountershaft meshing with said first gears, free wheel mechanismsconnecting said gears on said countershaft, a member secured to thedriving shaft, centrifugal clutch mechanism having a part mounted onsaid member secured to the driving shaft and a part connected to theoutermost of said sleeves, plates mounted upon the two innermostsleeves. two other plates parallel to the plates on said sleeves, one ofsaid last plates being fixed on said driven shaft, a

I plate between said last named plates connected to said member mountedon the driving shaft for rotation therewith. a plate between the platemounted on the innermost sleeve and one of said last plates connected tothe plate mounted on the intermediate sleeve for rotation therewith, andclutch portions between said last four plates and the plate mounted onthe inner sleeve, automatic means controlled by the speed of the drivingshaft and the load on the driven shaft to control the clutches thusformed, said means including centrifugal masses adapted to causeengagement of said clutches when a certain speed is reached, and meansconnecting said clutches, said clutch-connecting means transmitting theload on the driven shaft to the various clutches, said clutch-connectingmeans including members movable upon variations in the load on thedriven shaft for preventing engagement of one of the clutches as long asthe load remains above a predetermined value.

CHARLES EDOUARD HENRIOD.

